Produced by Jay Ward Productions, the animated adventures of Rocket J. (“Rocky”) Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose originally aired from November 1959 to June 1964 in multiple time slots on multiple networks. The episodes presented two chapters of long-running stories about the wacky exploits involving Rocky and Bullwinkle and their frequent nemeses Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. Each chapter would conclude with a cliffhanger.
Buy Mr. Peabody & Sherman: The Complete Collection DVDThese chapters would bookend other segments, such as “Dudley Do-Right” and “Fractured Fairy Tales.” Another segment was “Peabody’s Improbable History,” created by Ted Key. It presented the time-traveling adventures of an anthropomorphized dog, Mr. Peabody (Bill Scott), and his adopted boy, Sherman (Walter Tetley). Mr. Peabody is a genius who graduated “wagna cum laude” from Harvard at age 3.
And be warned no pun is left unturned by the writers, usually relayed by Mr. Peabody at the end of an episode. For example from “Paul Revere,” General George Washington is happy that in exactly 60 seconds hundreds of men turned out ready to fight the British. Teeing up the pun, Sherman asks if they should call them “60-second men” to which Mr. Peabody replies he’d “call them minutemen.”
Mr. Peabody invented the Wayback machine, which allows them to meet historical figures from around the world and to understand the languages they speak. They meet famous people, like Ben Franklin and Cleopatra, unknown people, like the first caveman, and fictional people like Robin Hood and Don Juan. Mr. Peabody and Sherman also attend historical events such as the “First Kentucky Derby,” “The Battle of Bunker Hill,” and “The Building of the Great Pyramid.”
They provide humorous details about history, including their impact upon it. Since they don’t return Napoleon’s stolen suspenders, he is seen in pictures with his hand inside his coat because he is holding up his pants. Mona Lisa won’t smile for Da Vinci. Mr. Peabody realizes it’s because she has a toothache and seeks a remedy. It’s almost comical how unconcerned they are about altering the past.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman: The Complete Collection is a two-disc set that collects all 91 segments, each running about five minutes. The animation is occasionally choppy, but that is part of its charm. Plus, the cartoons are so funny they allow one to overlook their shortcomings, such as the need of a restoration. Throughout the set, there are bits of dirt and signs of damage, flickering, and animation errors such as Mr. Peabody’s nose appearing white instead of black.
While some purists may prefer “Peabody’s Improbable History” within Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, Mr. Peabody & Sherman: The Complete Collection makes them more accessible for fans.
